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enTue, 31 Mar 2015 21:53:52 GMTvBulletin60http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/digitalvb/morbid/misc/rss.pnghttp://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/
Unauthorised Conservatoryhttp://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?67258-Unauthorised-Conservatory&goto=newpost
Tue, 24 Mar 2015 07:58:20 GMTWe bought the house nine years ago and added a conservatory following a phone call to the local council who advised us that we did not need planning permission. We are now in the process of selling the property and a problem has arisen regarding the planning permission for the conservatory. We...We bought the house nine years ago and added a conservatory following a phone call to the local council who advised us that we did not need planning permission. We are now in the process of selling the property and a problem has arisen regarding the planning permission for the conservatory. We were not aware at the time we lived in a conservation area. The conservatory has been built nine years, how do we stand with regard to the "four year rule" , indemnity insurance, retrospective planning and any other red tape problems. Kind regards barberwalt
]]>BARBERWALThttp://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?67258-Unauthorised-ConservatoryServices to newly separated flatshttp://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?67203-Services-to-newly-separated-flats&goto=newpost
Sat, 21 Mar 2015 08:30:09 GMTHi everyone,

just looking for some advice from more knowledgable beings! I recently purchased a 3 storey property in the West Midlands. The downstairs is a shop and floor 1 and 2 is a 2 bedroom flat. The flat is huge so we're converting it into 2 separate flats. The flats have been untouched since the dark ages so require a lot of work. At present there is gas supply to the 1st floor but no meter and the electric meter to the flat is situated in the shop (the gas meter used to be situated here too). So here are my questions:

1) I've contacted Westerpower who have quoted £2000 to have 2 separate meters installed in the 1st and 2nd floor. Does this sound reasonable?

2) Severn Trent are also going to charge thousands to give me a new water supply. Can I service both flats with water from one supply and get the tenants to split the bill?

Thanks!
]]>Sobi1980http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?67203-Services-to-newly-separated-flatsGarden Plot, How to work out price? ownership check, buying, planning permission?http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?67191-Garden-Plot-How-to-work-out-price-ownership-check-buying-planning-permission&goto=newpost
Fri, 20 Mar 2015 11:40:55 GMTHello There
I have been trying to find a building plot in London (anywhere in London) for a long span of time and I have finally found a *garden plot* in Enfield area. However, I do not know how to work out the price.
In order to give more information. The location of this garden plot is...Hello There

I have been trying to find a building plot in London (anywhere in London) for a long span of time and I have finally found a *garden plot* in Enfield area. However, I do not know how to work out the price.

In order to give more information. The location of this garden plot is *EN2* postcode area. It is a kind of corner garden plot and it has entrance from 2 sides of the road. There are quite a few old trees in this garden plot.

The landlord demands £60,000 (without any planning permission) and I am not really sure if it's a correct price. I am a little bit nervous in order to get in touch with Estate agents as you know how they are now a days and once they will have the address, they will just get in touch with the landlord

With all this in mind, I do not know where I stand.

I need below:

Advice on a price
how to move forward and check the legalities if the owner is actually an answer. When asked, if it was a freehold land "He Replied" saying, Yes, Its my garden on my share of freehold".

I have been in contact with a planning submission company and they said, they need to get in touch with the council for pre-planning application/advice and it will cost £4000+VAT - Full planning application will cost £4000+VAT and £1200 for surveying and tree surgery, and fencing and borders/boundaries understandings.

I am really confused as it's a lot of money, £12000+VAT for planning, architect, etc, and it still does not guarantee if i will actually get a planning permission. If I do not, then this money and £60,000 will be a complete waste.

If someone has done or encountered a similar thing, or knows how to move forward from here by making it easy for me (layman) as I know very little with how this works.

I will really appreciate positive feedback and help

Thank you
Lucas
]]>luqmanhttp://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?67191-Garden-Plot-How-to-work-out-price-ownership-check-buying-planning-permissionRights when Landlord gets Planning (eek)http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?67178-Rights-when-Landlord-gets-Planning-(eek)&goto=newpost
Thu, 19 Mar 2015 17:45:54 GMTHello!
So.. after many attempts our landlord finally got permission to build (again) on the flat roof to our building. His last build was rubbish (flat below made of timber is bowing and subject to 40K NHBC claim). We were wondering as long leasehold owners what our rights were to make sure this...Hello!

So.. after many attempts our landlord finally got permission to build (again) on the flat roof to our building. His last build was rubbish (flat below made of timber is bowing and subject to 40K NHBC claim). We were wondering as long leasehold owners what our rights were to make sure this time its built in clean, safe and proper manner etc? What can we ask to see in terms of documents for the build? We are concerned that he going to connect these two 3 bed flats to existing water pump which is already strained (and only "just acceptable" according to Thames Water) for example - and also are concerned that the only space left to install new water/gas pipes is where our existing bike facility is. Do we have any rights to see where and what they are planning. None of this info is in the planning docs to the permission that we can see.

Last time the lift was put under a lot of strain as its a goods lift effectively, and they were too tight to pay for a cherry picker. Ever since it breaks down alot and we are concerned this might finish it off! Can we stop them using it?

Sorry a lot of questions! We were hopeful they would not get planning and are rather alarmed after last time that they have!
]]>LouisaMhttp://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?67178-Rights-when-Landlord-gets-Planning-(eek)Window Regs Issueshttp://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?67044-Window-Regs-Issues&goto=newpost
Fri, 13 Mar 2015 10:52:28 GMTHi
We are currently working on a flat that needs some work to get it up to building reg standards for letting out.
The flat is normal ground floor Victorian layout. The previous owner stuck a skinny side return on the flat and put a kitchen in there. Which it did need as the space is quite...Hi

We are currently working on a flat that needs some work to get it up to building reg standards for letting out.

The flat is normal ground floor Victorian layout. The previous owner stuck a skinny side return on the flat and put a kitchen in there. Which it did need as the space is quite small . However, this meant he bricked up the window to the room behind (a bedroom) and then put a much smaller window, high up that opens above the roof of the side return. (otherwise the original window just looked straight in to the side return).

Regs. NATURAL LIGHTING 1. All habitable rooms shall be provided with an area of clear glazing situated in either a window and/or a door, opening to the external air, equivalent in total area to at least 1/10th of the floor area of the room.

Problem is that that new window is not 1/10 of the floor space of the room as per requirements. Other problem is that we can’t make the window much bigger.

What we can do is reinstate the original window to make it meet 1/10 of the floor space, and make it frosted/opaque glass, looking into the side return (can even open if it needs to), also keeping the top window (making it slightly bigger) and continues to open to natural air above the side return roof. The bottom main window would just have light from inside the side return.

However, not sure if the councils would accept the window not 100% opening to the natural air?

The bedroom door is about 1m from the flat entrance door which leads into the communal hall with access to the outside (front of the house).

Has anyone had experience with something like this, and do you think the council would be ok with this?

The other option which is much more problematic seems to be to cut the side return short and add a light well so that the full length of the window opens to the light well opening. As per link (see Courtyard), although ours would have to be a much smaller lightwell
]]>***DK***http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?67044-Window-Regs-Issuesbathroom fusshttp://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?67030-bathroom-fuss&goto=newpost
Thu, 12 Mar 2015 18:21:42 GMTHi all. I am wanting to strip out my bathroom to bear brick. Re plaster move surface mounted pipework to under floorboards. Re fit suite and tile. My local council (lincolnshire) on there web site is saying i need planning and building control involved unless done by someone under the competant...Hi all. I am wanting to strip out my bathroom to bear brick. Re plaster move surface mounted pipework to under floorboards. Re fit suite and tile. My local council (lincolnshire) on there web site is saying i need planning and building control involved unless done by someone under the competant persons scheme. Is this correct. Maybe thinking of selling the house within the next year so need to things so it doesnt cause compications where on the market. Thanks
]]>Rotax100ukhttp://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?67030-bathroom-fussParkinghttp://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?67012-Parking&goto=newpost
Thu, 12 Mar 2015 00:54:54 GMTGood evening All. Does anyone know what is the minimum legal distance, between a parked car and a residential property wall? Are cars allowed to park on a private pavement, right in front of residential property windows?Good evening All. Does anyone know what is the minimum legal distance, between a parked car and a residential property wall? Are cars allowed to park on a private pavement, right in front of residential property windows?
]]>_adam_http://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?67012-ParkingPermitted Development for Extensionshttp://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?66939-Permitted-Development-for-Extensions&goto=newpost
Sat, 07 Mar 2015 07:56:47 GMTWe are presently allowed to add 6m extensions to semi detached/ terraced family dwellings and 8m too detached

This started in 2013 and ends in 2016

Is this likely to be extended beyond 2016? What's everyones take on it?

I have PD for a 6m extension. My council told me they will take enforcement action on the extension if its not completed by that date

A rather harsh and direct i thought - so i thought i'd put this out there and warn anyone who is thinking of doing the same or already has permission
]]>medlockhttp://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?66939-Permitted-Development-for-ExtensionsSplitting utlity supplieshttp://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?66886-Splitting-utlity-supplies&goto=newpost
Tue, 03 Mar 2015 09:56:36 GMTHi

I'm doing a small conversion in London, converting a house into two flats

Who do i need to contact to split the water, gas and electric supplies?

Is it the provider of the gas - or is there a main body for each of these that does the installs?

Thank you
]]>SofiaEvangelouhttp://www.landlordzone.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?66886-Splitting-utlity-supplies